Quaker City Alumnae (QCA – Philadelphia, PA) Delta DEARS are seasoned Deltas who are always busy! This sorority year they have had frequent Delta DEAR luncheons and a special Delta DEAR Zoom meeting, attended QCA’s Technology Workshops, offered advice to the chapter, and participated in chapter programs. Perhaps of most importance, QCA’s Delta DEARS have “Service In Their Hearts.”

Chapter member Florence Oliver is the Co-Chair of Eastern Region’s Delta DEAR Committee and also a Golden Delta DEAR in QCA (she’s been a Delta for 50 years!). On behalf of QCA’s Delta DEARs, in October 2019 she contacted the Salvation Army’s Eliza Shirley House, a shelter for homeless women and families in Philadelphia, to see what services they needed. She was informed that this shelter was in desperate need of new towels and washcloths for its residents. Soror Oliver rallied the QCA Delta DEARS and they devised a plan to help this facility and thus, Project Linen Closet came to be.

Project Linen Closet was launched in November 2019 and ended in January 2020. This donation drive was publicized via QCA’s Facebook and Instagram social media, website, fliers, and word of mouth. Over the three-month period, QCA Delta DEARs collected nearly 400 bath towels, hand towels and washcloths, along with monetary donations and assorted toiletries – all donated by sorors, friends and family, and the general public.

On January 10, QCA Delta DEARs gathered at Soror Oliver’s home for what they called a “Bundle Party,” where they bundled matching towels, washcloths and hand towels, using colorful ribbon, primarily red and white of course. They took this extra step so the linens would be given to the shelter residents in a beautiful presentation.

The items were delivered to the Eliza Shirley House on January 16, 2020. Ms. Marie Ciarrocchi of Eliza Shirley House Shelter gladly accepted the donations. She excitedly said, “These donations will be such a great help for us! We cannot thank you enough!”

Inspired by this Delta DEAR service project, the QCA’s Toy Library Committee, which supports children 5-11 years old, wanted to teach the youth the importance of community service. Toy Library hosted an additional donation drive for the Eliza Shirley House, and collected items for “Blessing Bags” for the shelter’s residents. The children worked hard to assemble nearly 80 Blessing Bags, filling them with much-needed toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, soap, and related items. The youth also created handmade, inspirational cards for the shelter residents, with adorable pictures and inspirational sayings like “You Are Loved.” Again, Eliza Shirley House was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love shown by Quaker City Alumnae Chapter.

QCA Chapter President Shawn Anthony stated “Project Linen Closet was a great success thanks to the efforts of QCA’s treasured Delta DEARS, and the Toy Library donations were an added blessing to the shelter’s residents.”Yes, Quaker City Alumnae Chapter’s Delta DEARs certainly have “Service In Their Hearts!”

Submitted by Tracey D. Carter Quaker City Alumnae (QCA – Philadelphia, PA) Delta DEARS are seasoned Deltas who are always busy! This sorority year they have had frequent Delta DEAR luncheons and a special Delta DEAR Zoom meeting, attended QCA’s Technology Workshops, offered advice to the chapter, and participated in chapter programs. Perhaps of most …